| "You
must give to nature more than you take. Obey it and the earth will provide you
in glorious abundance." - Alan Chadwick. Geometric
shapes represent the stages of "Becoming." They allow a direct access
to the spiritual and material forces of creation. The ancients believed that incorporating
symbols of sacred geometry into the architecture would allow the soul to grow.
These ancient earth designers constructed sacred patterns into their temples,
monuments and other structures in honor of their spiritual essence. In
order to fully understand the dynamics behind sacred geometry, one must realize
the world is a natural phenomenon that is comprised of geometric forms. For example,
this can be seen in our bodies as the double helix of DNA, in the structure of
the cornea in the eye and every other part of the body that follows this same
predictable pattern. In the environment it can be seen in the reoccurring shapes
and fractals of leaves, flowers, seeds, the pattern of honeybees and other insects
that live structured lives, the crystalline form of gems and stones, the swirl
of a nautilus shell, the movement of the tides, the solar system and the cycles
of the moon. Sacred geometry is replicated in the vibrations of music (notes),
the grid patterns seen on earth (ley lines) and in religious symbols, especially
in Judaism, Christianity and Hinduism. These
geometric forms have been a constant source of inspiration to scientists, philosophers,
artists, musicians and architects around the world. The perfect harmony displayed
in these geometric forms always equals a measurement of (1.6180339887) and therefore
was given the term of "The Golden Mean" or "Golden Ratio."
This led Sir James Jeans, a British scientist during the mid 1800s, to pose the
famous question: "Is God a mathematician?" The
ancient Greeks were also very interested in the Golden Ratio. As a result, it
is seen in many works of art and architecture including the famous pyramids. The
famous Fibonacci sequence (1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55, etc.), where the generation
of numbers occurs by adding the previous two numbers in the list together to form
the next number, produces the Golden Ratio if you divide any number in the sequence
by the one before it (55/34) = 1.61803. This configuration represents the search
for absolute truth, love or God. When
these symbolic number principles are incorporated within building and room designs
it can have a profound effect on us. Since our dwellings are seen as extensions
of ourselves, by creating spaces that support our dynamic being it can sharpen
our senses, improve our physical body and reconnect us to our divine nature. When
we choose to build and design our spaces with more synthetic materials rather
than natural materials, we are disregarding nature in the process. Therefore,
we shut down our true nature and this can lead to disharmony, imbalance and disease.
There is an old Chinese proverb that says, "When there is order in the house,
there is order in the nation, when there is order in the nation, there is peace
in the world." Below are some ideas of how to incorporate sacred symbols
and the Golden Mean Ratio into your space. o
Labyrinths: A labyrinth is simply a system of paths that can be easy to get lost
in. The design of a labyrinth eases the mind into a meditative state. You can
create a small labyrinth in your yard or garden by simply creating pathways with
hedges, shrubs, stones or mosaic tiles. You can also purchase a geometric pattern
of a labyrinth and hang it on the wall of your sacred room or area where you meditate.
This geometric form activates the subconscious mind and symbolizes a winding path
to the divine source. o
Nautilus Shell: Keep a nautilus shell or ammonite fossil displayed in your home.
The spiral shape conforms to the Golden Mean Ratio and exudes divine harmony. o
Mandala: Mandala is Sanskrit for circle and symbolizes transformation, healing
and unity with the creator. A mandala can be placed on a coffee table or shelf.
You can purchase a sand tray mandala with a swinging pendulum. When the pendulum
moves it will create a sacred design formation in the sand. o
Plants: Living plants represent the geometric aspect in nature known as fractals.
The way leaves grow around the stem and the veining of the leaf is a sacred principle
that will keep you connected to nature. o
Spiral Designs: Any spiral designs that create a swirling movement rotating downward
to a center point, then upward, are extremely powerful sacred shapes. Native American
pottery often depicts these designs. o
Sacred Shapes: Incorporate seashells, crystals, ferns, leaves, circles, triangles,
pyramids, cubes and hexagons in your space. o
Artwork: Incorporate art with landscape scenes, flowers or spiral designs. o
Kaleidoscope: Get a Kaleidoscope and add it to your room décor. Use it
frequently and experience the sacred shapes created by the movement. The best
ones to use are those that have small color chips. o
Golden Mean Ratio: You can incorporate the Golden Mean ratio in any room that
is odd shaped. Simply measure the width of the room and then multiply it by the
Golden Mean Ratio (1.618) to find the perfect length. For example, a room with
a width of 14 feet multiplied by 1.618 equals 22.652 or 23 feet. This is the perfect
length for a room that is 14 feet wide. Simply design the furniture around these
dimensions and create a separate area for any additional odd space. This works
especially well when a room is long and narrow. You may also use this same concept
in an odd shaped yard. You can delineate the divine proportion area from another
area by planting a natural barrier with hedges or shrubbery. The
human body resonates to nature on a cellular and conscious level. By designing
our spaces with nature's symbols and the geometric forms found in those symbols,
we can create a space that nurtures us instead of one that drains us. This type
of architecture and interior design supports the principles of universal harmony
and nurtures our own senses and creativity in life.
Mary Jane is the owner
of 5 Element Designs Feng Shui consulting firm and is a noted author, educator
and speaker on Classical
and Western Feng Shui.
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